UK Ambassador Kent interview in La Nacion is not accurate

Ambassador Kent’s actual words were: “We can work together on a lot of bilateral issues, leaving the sovereignty issue to one side.”

The Ambassador’s words were: “When we talk about the future of the islands we have to recognize the Islanders, recognize their rights, their hopes, their fears.”

Political and diplomatic analyst from Argentine newspaper La Nacion has altered an online version of an interview due to his inaccurate reporting of an interview with the British Ambassador in Argentina.

The interview given by Ambassador Mark Kent to Martin Dinatale, “intimated that after Britain and Argentina work through various items they might well talk about sovereignty,” explained MLA Gavin Short on a social network site.

He added: “There was also mention of our ‘interests’ and not wishes. These interviews are recorded and the recordings clearly show that the Ambassador did NOT use those words.”

He drew attention to an Embassy circular as follows:

The interview published by La Nacion on Sunday contained some quotes attributed to the Ambassador that were not accurate, including the one used as a title.

The title read: “We can work on a lot of bilateral issues before we speak of the islands’ sovereignty.”

The Ambassador’s actual words were: “We can work together on a lot of bilateral issues, leaving the sovereignty issue to one side.”

The other phrase was: “When we talk about the future of the islands we have to recognize the islanders, their interests, and their life.”

The Ambassador’s words were: “When we talk about the future of the islands we have to recognise the Islanders, recognize their rights, their hopes, their fears.”

The Embassy sent the correct quotes to Mr Dinatale taken from their own recording of the interview, and asked him to amend - at least - the online version of the interview,
which he has done.

The Embassy said Mr Dinatale expressed his apologies and said it was what he had heard on his own recording, and it had not been done deliberately or in bad faith.

Top Comments

Of course he won't , there is one thing Think, Voice and Mr Kohen have in common, they are all hit and run merchants....

Feb 17th, 2017 - 04:44 pm +8

James Marshall

Sorry Think your version 'C', in the context of what Mr Kent said is incorrect as it means something entirely different to what was inferred. So that just blows your whole argument out the water, showing clearly that a translation can be interpreted in a variety of ways in the other language and mean something entirely different .

One translation you missed, was to translate 'aparte del' as 'apart from', which would in this context and version, be the most accurate.

'Apart from', 'Aside', 'To one side' and 'other than' all have the same meaning. 'As well as considering' is a completely different meaning and as an English translation would be wrong in this context. 'Apart from considering' would be correct, but that would use a different spanish phrase would it not?

Mr Kents office revised the incorrect version published in La Nacion to reflect the truth, in the same way the interviewer revised the correct version to produce his fantasy work. Not to difficult to understand Mr Think, even for you.

Now tell us all why you think the reporter had to change the text, for what purpose. Surely that transgression is of far more importance, no?

Feb 18th, 2017 - 11:24 am +7

The Voice

Trouble is Think you live in an unstable country with colonialist ambitions and everyone knows, from your recent history, that your government can change in the blink of an eye. That means:-

A Junta can re-appear
A gang of barmy aggressive Peronists who term the islanders as 'squatters' like you have, can suddenly appear.
Its an Argentinian habit to say one thing and slyly do another.

In other words whatever you say we don't trust you. So, we Think the Falkland Islands and Argentina should simply be friendly neighbours. Until you have been friendly neighbours for a very long time, the Naval Patrols, Air Defence Exercises and military presence will remain. Meanwhile the Falkland Islanders continue to enjoy peace and prosperity as a British Overseas Territory.